3 men suspected they could be infant kidnapped from Colorado Springs in 1986

Three men came forward in 2018 suspecting that they might be the infant who was kidnapped from his Colorado Springs home in 1986.

Author: Janet Oravetz

Published: 6:49 AM MST February 7, 2019

Updated: 7:54 AM MST February 7, 2019

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Tips led to the DNA testing of three men in 2018 who suspected that they might be the infant who was kidnapped from his Colorado Springs home in 1986, according to a release from the Colorado Springs Police Department.

On July 15, 1986, seven-month-old Christopher Abeyta was taken from his parents’ bedroom in the middle of the night and foul play is suspected, Colorado Springs police have said.

During 2018, tips were received identifying three separate individuals as possibly being Christopher Abeyta, according to the Colorado Springs Police Department. DNA samples were collected voluntarily from all three individuals.

The first tip was received from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) on Aug. 9, 2018. DNA was collected on Aug. 22, 2018, from the donor and sent to the University of North Texas (UNT) Laboratory on Aug. 23, 2018.

The second tip was received by a family member of Christopher Abeyta on Aug. 29, 2018, and on that same date, a DNA sample was obtained by the Colorado Bureau of Investigations (CBI) and sent to the UNT laboratory on Aug. 30, 2018.

The third tip was received on Oct. 5, 2018, from a police department in Florida. Colorado Springs police contacted that person and a DNA sample was collected in Florida and received by CSPD on October 27, 2018. It was sent to the UNT laboratory the following day.

On Feb. 1, 2019, CSPD received the results for all three DNA samples and it was determined that none of the three individuals are Christopher Abeyta.

The investigation into Christopher’s disappearance remains an active and open investigation with the Colorado Springs Police Department’s Missing Persons and Cold Case Units.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to call the Colorado Springs Police Department at (719) 444-7000; or if you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers Tip Line at (719) 634-STOP (7867) or 1-800-222-8477.